Cushion wheel



A. F. KINZEY sept; 29; 1936.

SHO: um;

Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 20 Claims.

'I'his invention, relating to pneumatic cushion wheels, has for its principal purposes to provide a Wheel of this class adapted Vfor railway vehicles, having means responsive to the inflation pressure for automatically changing the wheel from ya cushioned to a substantially rigid structure in case of deflation of the pneumatic cushioning means, one having means for supporting the wheel body concentrically on the outer tire in case of such deflation, and one having improved means for cushioning and limiting the normal lateral relative movments of said body and tire. Further objects are to provide a cushion-wheel structure capable of easy and secure assembly and adapted for manufacture at a moderate cost, to reduce the liability to deflation, increase the durability and lower the maintenance cost of such wheels.

This application is a continuation in part of my prior application Serial No. 698,351, filed Nov. 16, 1933.

Of the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is an axial section through a portion of a wheel and axle, approximately on the irregular line I-I of Fig. 2, showing a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse partial `section approxif mately on the irregular line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial axial section showing a modification.

Fig. 4 is an axial section showing a second modiflcation which was the principal embodiment disclosed in my said prior application, Ser. No. 698,351.

In the drawing, I0 is a rotary or live axle adapted to transmit driving power to the wheel and/or to arrest the latters rotation through a suitable brake on said axle. 'Ihe axle has an inner wheel-retaining shoulder l I, an adjacent reduced cylindrical wheel-receiving portion I2, a shoulder I3 at the outer end of the latter, and a threaded outer end portion I4 on which is -a wheel-retaining nut I5.

i6 is an outer metallic tire formed with a railguide flange Hand with an inner cushion seat I8 constituted by a wide and shallow groove, the middle of which is flat or cylindrical and its sides flaring. The outer side faces of the tire are formed as female-cone emergency supporting surfaces I9.

The inner wheel body includes a member 20 having a hub 2I fitted 0n the reduced portion I2 of the axle and fixed against rotation thereon by a key 22, a cylindrical rim 23 and a series of connecting spokes 24 of a suitable -number such as six. The wheel body further includes a pair of emergency supporting lside plates or rings 25 formed with intermediate annular flanges 26 whose inner peripheries are fitted to slide axially on the rim of the body member 20, said plates being yieldingly drawn Vtogether by a series of helical pull-springs y l2l occupying the apertures between the spokes 24. '5v 'Ihese springs have Lthreaded ends projecting through apertures in the plates 26 and their pressure is transmitted to the plates through nuts 28 and lock washers 29. The rim portions of the plates 25 are inwardly formed vwith male-cone sur- 10 faces 30 complemental to the surfaces I9 on the sides of the rail tire I6 and adapted to contact therewith under certain conditions.

Between the rail tire and the inner wheel body is interposed an annular pneumatic cushion 3| having the construction of an ordinary pneumatic tire, namely a rubber inner tube .32 and an outer casing 33 of the usual rubberized inextensible fabric carcass construction (not fully shown in detail) and surface rubber, said casing having the usual edge beads 34. Said beads are fitted in bead seats 35 of complemental shape formed on the outer sides of the plate flanges 26 and in this case are spreadable so that, when the cushion is properly inflated, the plates 25 are held apart by the expansion of the tire at the beads. The tube34 seats upon an annular flexible flap 36 whose margins overlie the thin tapered inner marginal portions of the flanges 26 to avoid pinching of the tube when said flanges come together. The tread portion 31 of the cushion casing abuts the seat I8 on the rail tire I6. At the shoulders of the casing 33 are formed annular contact ribs 38 of rubber normally spaced slightly from complemental inner surfaces of the emergency rings 25 but adapted to contact therewith by a lateral thrust in either direction to cushion the relative lateral movements of the wheel body and tire I6, said movements being f1- nally positively limited by contact of the surfaces I9 and 30.

Inflation of the tube 32 is effected through ,an angular valved stem or pipe 39 whose mouth is opposite an opening in the outer side plate 25 closed by a removable screw plug 40.

The inner marginal portions of the emergency plates or rings 25 are externally formed with undulating cam-like or wedge members 4I interfltted with complemental members formed upon a pair of rings 42, 43 which surround the reduced portions of the axle l0 and are held against turn- 50' ing with respect to the wheel hub 2I by dowels 44, the outer ring 43 being held against the axle shoulder I3 by the nut I5. These cam or wedge rings form a .driving connection between the axle and the wheel body rings 25, and their angular displacement with respect to the rings 25 through torque reactions caused by braking or driving when the cushion 3| is deflated produces a locking of the rings 25 when the latter are supported by their conical surfaces on those of the tire |6, which tends to avoid relative radial displacement or chatter between the tire and wheel body when the two are thus connected in rigid relation.

In the operation of this form of my invention, the inflation of the pneumatic tire or cushion 3| to service pressure spreads the rings 25, through the action of the casing beads 34 thereon, against the tension of the springs 21 to hold said rings against the stops formed by the cam rings 42, 43, and the wheel body is thereby yieldingly supported on the rail tire I6 and radially cushioned thereby through a, small amplitude of movementv through the ability of the inflated cushion to ex substantially throughout its entire depth. The wheel body and tire are also cushioned as to relative lateral movement by the lateral iiexibility of the pneumatic cushion and the abutting of its ribs 38 against the rings 25, the extremes of such relative lateral movement being positively limited bythe abutting of the conical surfaces I9 and 30. In case of failure of the pneumatic pressure through deflation of the cushion to a point where the lateral pressure of the beads 34 is no longer able to overcome the opposing pressure of the springs 21, said springs draw the plates or rings 25 inwardly until the emergency conical surfaces I9 and 30 are brought together and the wheel body is then concentrically supported on the rail tire and the two connected substantially as a rigid structure without any relative radial movement. Under these conditions, the torque reaction of driving or braking between the axle and the rail tire produces a suflicient relative angular movement of the wedge rings 42 and 43 with reference to the wheel hub 2| to cause the cam surfaces 4| on the latter to ride up part way on those of said wedge rings and thereby lock the emergency rings 25 against the rail tire to avoid chatter and wear due to the blows of the rail, the torque being transmitted between the tire I6 and the rings 25 by the friction between their conical surfaces.

In the modification illustrated in Fig'. 3, a wheel body member 20a of modified form is keyed on the axle, inner and outer emergency rings or plates 25 and-25b of modified form are mounted by their inner peripheries to slide axially on said member and drawn together by pull-springs 21, the inner plate 25a is held against outward axial movement by a detachable retaining ring 45, the outer plate 25b is splined to the body member by anti-friction balls 46 running in grooves formed in the two, the pneumatic cushion 3| is carried by an ordinary tire rim 41 mounted on the cylindrical outer periphery or seat 48 of a middle flange 49 projecting outwardly from the hub portion of member 20a, said flange being spoked and apertured for the reception of the springs, and the middle portions of the side walls of the cushion casing 33 are formed with rubber ribs 50 contacting with raised annular seats on the plates 25a and 25h, so that the expansion of the middle portion of the pneumatic cushion normally holds the emergency plates apart. In this case it is mainly the flexing of the outer portions of the cushion y including the tread and shoulders thereof which provides the cushioned relative radial movement of the wheel body with respect to the tire and cushioned relative lateral movements thereof, limited by contact. of the conical members I9 and 3B. In case of deflation of the pneumatic cushion, the tension of the springs 21 draws the plates 25a and 25b together as in the first-described embodiment to hold the wheel body and tire in concentric, substantially rigid relation.

In the second modification shown in Fig, 4 I employ a pair of pneumatic cushions and a third pneumatic member containing the same air pressure as the cushions for holding the emergency members apart. In this case, a wheel body member 2!b is keyed on the axle I0 and a pair of flanged cushions 5|, 52 are screwed into its ends for retaining a pair of wheel body plates 53 against outward endwise movement, the bushing Y 52 being inwardly coned to receive a conical wedge plug 54 against which the retaining nut |5 abuts. A pair of pneumatic cushions 3| of ordinary tire form are carried by rims 41 xed on inwardlyturned margins of the plates 53 and the treads of said cushions are fitted in marginal seats formed on a metal rail tire |6a. The tire is provided with a middle, inwardly-projecting flange 55 formed with female-cone supporting surfaces i3 for engagement, in case of deflation of the cushions, by complemental male-cone surfaces 3B formed on a pair of axially-slidable emergency rings 25c which are splined at 55 to the hub portion of the body member 2|lu in non-turning relation therewith and forced toward each other by compression springs 21a interposed between them and the side plates 53. The emergency rings are normally held apart by a rubber tube 51 which carries the same pressure as the cushions 3|, received through pipe connections 58 including flexible sections, one of said connections having a valved iniiating extension 59 whose end cap normally closes a tell-tale opening 60 in a plug 6| screwed in the outer side plate 53, the withdrawal of such end cap by inward movement of the emergency ring which carries it serving to show the deflated condition.

The control tube 51 is confined on all sides, at its inner periphery by the hub of member 20, at its opposite sides by the rings 25c and at its outer periphery by a ring 62 slidingly fitted in grooves in the emergency rings and supported in fixed position from the side plates 53 by rods 63. A flexible contact brush 64, mounted on the tire flange 55 and contacting with the ring 62, furnishes an electrical connection between the wheel body and the tire for transmitting track-signal current. In normal operation, the relative radial movements of the wheel body and the tire are cushioned by the pneumatic cushions 3| and their relative lateral movements by the flexibility of said cushions, In case of deflation, the failure of pressure in the cushions 3| and in the control tube 51 permits the spring 21'@ to force the rings 25c together, bringing the conical surfaces I9 and 3U into contact and providing a substantially rigid concentric connection between said tire and wheel body.

Various other changes could be made in the embodiment of my invention without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A cushion wheel comprising a tire, a wheel body, a pneumatic cushion interposed between the two, and emergency" means automatically movable into an active position on failure of the pressure in said cushion for rigidly supporting said body concentrically on the tire in driving relation thereto, said means being automatically reset and held in an inactive position by the pneumatic pressure on restoration of said pressure.

2. A cushion wheel vcomprising a tire, a pneumatic cushion supported thereby, a wheel vbody supported by the cushion, normally inactive cone means thereon for rigidly supporting said body concentrically on the tire, and means controlled automatically by the pressure in the tire for bringing said cone means into action in case of failure of said pressure.

3. A cushion wheel structure comprising a tire having a concentric emergency supporting rigid cone member, a wheel body having a-complemental concentric rigid cone member movable axially into frictional supporting and driving relation with the wheel cone member, a pneumatic cushion interposed between said tire and wheel body, and means controlled by the pressure in said cushion for automatically moving said complemental member into operative position when the cushion is deflated.

4. A cushion wheel comprising a tire, a pneumatic cushion supported thereby, and a wheel body supported by the cushion and having springprojected means normally retracted by the pressure in said cushion for supporting said wheel body concentrically on the tire in case of failure of said pressure.

5. A cushion wheel comprising a tire, an annular pneumatic cushion supported thereon, a wheel body normally supported radially by said cushion and having a pair of emergency rings normally held apart by the pressure in the cushion for supporting the wheel body on the tire in case of deflation of the cushion, and spring means for forcing said rings together into emergency supporting position.

6. A cushion wheel comprising a tire having female-cone supporting surfaces, an annular pneumatic cushion supported on said tire, and a wheel body normally supported radially on said cushion and including a pair of spring-backed annular members provided with complemental male-cone surfaces, said members being normally held apart by the pressure in the cushion and adapted to bring their coned surfaces into contact with those of the tire for rigidly supporting the Wheel body concentrically on the tire in case of failure of said pressure.

7. A cushion wheel comprising a tire, an annular pneumatic cushion element supported thereby, and a wheel body normally supported on said element and having emergency members controlled by the lateral expansion of the cushion element for concentrically supporting said wheel body on the tire in case of failure of the pressure in said element.

8. A cushion wheel according to claim 7 in which the cushion element is a flexible casing having a contained pneumatic tube and spreadable bead edges normally holding said emergency members retracted.

9. A cushion wheel according to claim '7 in which the cushion element has spreadable bead edges normally holding said emergency members retracted, and in which the shoulders of said element cushion the relative lateral movements of said wheel body and tire and said lateral movements are positively limited by the abutting of the tire and the emergency members.

10. A cushion wheel comprising a tire, a wheel body having spring projected rings p-roviding emergency support for said wheel body on the tire, and pneumatic ring-spreading and wheelcushioning means including an inflatable, annular member of inextensible wall construction interposed between said rings.

ingly holding said rings against said bead edges.

12. A cushion wheel comprising a tire, a wheel body including a relatively-fixed member and a pair of spring-projected, emergency rings for concentrically supporting the wheel body on the tire, said rings having opposed flanges axially slidable on said member and formed with thin,.

tapering margins, a pneumatic cushion engaging said tire and including a casing with beads seated on said flanges vfor normally holding said rings apart and an inner tube in said casing, and a flexible protective llap interposed between said body member and tube, with its margins overlapping those of said flanges.

13. A cushion wheel comprising a tire, a wheel body including a pair of axially-movable, springprojected rings providing emergency concentric support for the wheel body on the tire, and an interposed annular pneumatic cushioning element having the middle portions of its side walls normally engaging said rings for holding them apart by expansion of the middle of said element when the latter is inflated, the flexure of the shoulders and tread of said element mainly serving to cushion the radial movements of the wheel body with respect to the tire.

14. A cushion wheel comprising an axle, a tire, a Wheel body including an element fixed on the axle, spring-projected members axially slidable on said element for furnishing frictional emergency concentric support for the wheel body on the tire, and having limited angular movement with respect to said element, a pneumatic cushion interposed between said body and tire for cushioning their relative radial movement and for normally holding said members apart, and means operated by torque reaction between said element and members for angularly locking them together.

15. A cushion wheel according to claim 14 in which the torque reaction means comprises wedge rings on the axle having axial-thrust cam means, and complemental cam means on said fixed body member.

16. A cushion wheel comprising a tire having an inner annular emergency flange with femalecone supporting surfaces, a wheel body, annular interposed pneumatic cushioning elements on opposite sides of said flange, and a pair of springbacked annular members on said body, having male-cone surfaces for coacting with the supporting surfaces of the tire flange to rigidly support the wheel body concentrically on the tire when the cushions are deflated.

17. A cushion wheel comprising a tire, a wheel body, an interposed annular pneumatic cushion, a spring-projected emergency member for supporting said tire when the cushion is deflated, and pneumatic means communicating with said cushion and having the same air pressure as the latter for normally holding said member out of emergency supporting position.

l18. A cushion wheel comprising an outer tire, a wheel body, an interposed annular pneumatic cushion, a pair of emergency rings spring-projected toward each for supporting said wheel body on the tire when the cushion is deflated and adapted to limit the relative lateral movement of said body in normal operation, and a pneumatic tube interposed between said emergency rings and having its interior connected with that of the pneumatic cushion to equalize their air pressures for normally holding said rings apart, out of their emergency supporting positions.

19. A cushion Wheel comprising a tire, a Wheel body, an interposed pneumatic cushion, a member movable on said body to provide emergency support for the latter upon the tire When the cushion is deflated, and an extensible rubber pneumatic element confined on all sides for normally holding said emergency member out of action.

20. A cushion wheel comprising a tire having a stop flange, a Wheel body, an interposed pail of pneumatic cushions flanking said ange, a pair of rings axially movable on the Wheel body to provide emergency support for the latter upon the tire flange and spring-projected toward the latter, an extensible rubber pneumatic tube interposed between said rings for normally holding them apart and communicating with the pneumatic cushions, said tube being conned by the Wheel body at its inner periphery, and a coni-lning ring for the outer periphery of said tube, mounted on the Wheel body and slidingly related to said rings.

ALBERT F. KINZEY. 

